12,217 research outputs found
Improving sustainability through intelligent cargo and adaptive decision making
In the current society, logistics is faced with the challenge to meet more stringent sustainability goals. Shippers and transport service providers both aim to reduce the carbon footprint of their logistic operations. To do so, optimal use of logistics resources and physical infrastructure should be aimed for. An adaptive decision making process for the selection of a specific transport modality, transport provider and timeslot (aimed at minimisation of the carbon footprint) enables shippers to achieve this. This requires shippers to have access to up-to-date capacity information from transport providers (e.g. current and scheduled loading status of the various transport means and information on carbon footprint) and traffic information (e.g. city logistics and current traffic information). A prerequisite is an adequate infrastructure for collaboration and open exchange of information between the various stakeholders in the logistics value chain to obtain the up-to-date information. This paper gives a view on how such an advanced information infrastructure can be realised, currently being developed within the EU iCargo project. The paper describes a reference logistics value chain, including business benefits for each of the roles in the logistics value chain of aiming for sustainability. A case analysis is presented that reflects a practical situation in which the various roles collaborate and exchange information for realizing sustainability goals, using adaptive decision making for selecting a transport modality, transport provider, and timeslot. A high-level overview is provided of the requirements on and technical implementation of the supporting advanced infrastructure for collaboration and open information exchange.In the current society, logistics is faced with the challenge to meet more stringent sustainability goals. Shippers and transport service providers both aim to reduce the carbon footprint of their logistic operations. To do so, optimal use of logistics resources and physical infrastructure should be aimed for. An adaptive decision making process for the selection of a specific transport modality, transport provider and timeslot (aimed at minimisation of the carbon footprint) enables shippers to achieve this. This requires shippers to have access to up-to-date capacity information from transport providers (e.g. current and scheduled loading status of the various transport means and information on carbon footprint) and traffic information (e.g. city logistics and current traffic information). A prerequisite is an adequate infrastructure for collaboration and open exchange of information between the various stakeholders in the logistics value chain to obtain the up-to-date information. This paper gives a view on how such an advanced information infrastructure can be realised, currently being developed within the EU iCargo project. The paper describes a reference logistics value chain, including business benefits for each of the roles in the logistics value chain of aiming for sustainability. A case analysis is presented that reflects a practical situation in which the various roles collaborate and exchange information for realizing sustainability goals, using adaptive decision making for selecting a transport modality, transport provider, and timeslot. A high-level overview is provided of the requirements on and technical implementation of the supporting advanced infrastructure for collaboration and open information exchange.In the current society, logistics is faced with the challenge to meet more stringent sustainability goals. Shippers and transport service providers both aim to reduce the carbon footprint of their logistic operations. To do so, optimal use of logistics resources and physical infrastructure should be aimed for. An adaptive decision making process for the selection of a specific transport modality, transport provider and timeslot (aimed at minimisation of the carbon footprint) enables shippers to achieve this. This requires shippers to have access to up-to-date capacity information from transport providers (e.g. current and scheduled loading status of the various transport means and information on carbon footprint) and traffic information (e.g. city logistics and current traffic information). A prerequisite is an adequate infrastructure for collaboration and open exchange of information between the various stakeholders in the logistics value chain to obtain the up-to-date information. This paper gives a view on how such an advanced information infrastructure can be realised, currently being developed within the EU iCargo project. The paper describes a reference logistics value chain, including business benefits for each of the roles in the logistics value chain of aiming for sustainability. A case analysis is presented that reflects a practical situation in which the various roles collaborate and exchange information for realizing sustainability goals, using adaptive decision making for selecting a transport modality, transport provider, and timeslot. A high-level overview is provided of the requirements on and technical implementation of the supporting advanced infrastructure for collaboration and open information exchange
Integrating archaeology and ancient DNA analysis to address invasive species colonization in the Gulf of Alaska
The intentional and unintentional movement of plants and animals by humans has transformed ecosystems and landscapes globally. Assessing when and how a species was introduced are central to managing these transformed landscapes, particularly in island environments. In the Gulf of Alaska, there is considerable interest in the history of mammal introductions and rehabilitating Gulf of Alaska island environments by eradicating mammals classified as invasive species. The Arctic ground squirrel (Urocitellus parryii) is of concern because it affects vegetation and seabirds on Gulf of Alaska islands. This animal is assumed to have been introduced by historic settlers; however, ground squirrel remains in the prehistoric archaeological record of Chirikof Island, Alaska, challenge this timeline and suggest they colonized the islands long ago. We used 3 lines of evidence to address this problem: direct radiocarbon dating of archaeological squirrel remains; evidence of prehistoric human use of squirrels; and ancient DNA analysis of dated squirrel remains. Chirikof squirrels dated to at least 2000 years ago, and cut marks on squirrel bones suggested prehistoric use by people. Ancient squirrels also shared a mitochondrial haplotype with modern Chirikof squirrels. These results suggest that squirrels have been on Chirikof longer than previously assumed and that the current population of squirrels is closely related to the ancient population. Thus, it appears ground squirrels are not a recent, humanâmediated introduction and may have colonized the island via a natural dispersal event or an ancient human translocation.We thank T. Rick, D. Grayson, R. Fleischer, M. Hawkins, A. West, and C. Mikeska for their contributions to this research. We also thank 3 reviewers and the editors of Conservation Biology who greatly improved this paper. This work was funded by the National Geographic Society, the University of Maine, the Smithsonian Institution, and Boston University. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (National Geographic Society; University of Maine; Smithsonian Institution; Boston University)Published versio
Allosteric collaboration between elongation factor G and the ribosomal L1 stalk directs tRNA movements during translation
Determining the mechanism by which transfer RNAs (tRNAs) rapidly and
precisely transit through the ribosomal A, P and E sites during translation
remains a major goal in the study of protein synthesis. Here, we report the
real-time dynamics of the L1 stalk, a structural element of the large ribosomal
subunit that is implicated in directing tRNA movements during translation.
Within pre-translocation ribosomal complexes, the L1 stalk exists in a dynamic
equilibrium between open and closed conformations. Binding of elongation factor
G (EF-G) shifts this equilibrium towards the closed conformation through one of
at least two distinct kinetic mechanisms, where the identity of the P-site tRNA
dictates the kinetic route that is taken. Within post-translocation complexes,
L1 stalk dynamics are dependent on the presence and identity of the E-site
tRNA. Collectively, our data demonstrate that EF-G and the L1 stalk
allosterically collaborate to direct tRNA translocation from the P to the E
sites, and suggest a model for the release of E-site tRNA
On Central Charges and Hamiltonians for 0-brane dynamics
We consider general properties of central charges of zero branes and
associated duality invariants, in view of their double role, on the bulk and on
the world volume (quantum-mechanical) theory. A detailed study of the BPS
condition for the mass spectrum arising from toroidal compactifications is
given for 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8 BPS states in any dimensions. As a byproduct, we
retreive the U-duality invariant conditions on the charge (zero mode) spectrum
and the orbit classification of BPS states preserving different fractions of
supersymmetry. The BPS condition for 0-branes in theories with 16
supersymmetries in any dimension is also discussed.Comment: 23 pages, latex fil
Open membranes, ribbons and deformed Schild strings
We analyze open membranes immersed in a magnetic three-form field-strength
. While cylindrical membranes in the absence of behave like tensionless
strings, when the flux is present the strings polarize into thin membrane
ribbons, locally orthogonal to the momentum density, thus providing the strings
with an effective tension. The effective dynamics of the ribbons can be
described by a simple deformation of the Schild action for null strings.
Interactions become non-local due to the polarization, and lead to a
deformation of the string field theory, whereby string vertices receive a phase
factor proportional to the volume swept out by the ribbons. In a particular
limit, this reduces to the non-commutative loop space found previously.Comment: revte
The in-medium isovector pi N amplitude from low energy pion scattering
Differential cross sections for elastic scattering of 21.5 MeV positive and
negative pions by Si, Ca, Ni and Zr have been measured as part of a study of
the pion-nucleus potential across threshold. The `anomalous' repulsion in the
s-wave term was observed, as is the case with pionic atoms. The extra repulsion
can be accounted for by a chiral-motivated model where the pion decay constant
is modified in the medium. Unlike in pionic atoms, the anomaly cannot be
removed by merely introducing an empirical on-shell energy dependence.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. Minor changes, to appear in PR
Elastic scattering of low energy pions by nuclei and the in-medium isovector pi N amplitude
Measurements of elastic scattering of 21.5 MeV pi+ and pi- by Si, Ca, Ni and
Zr were made using a single arm magnetic spectrometer. Absolute calibration was
made by parallel measurements of Coulomb scattering of muons. Parameters of a
pion-nucleus optical potential were obtained from fits to all eight angular
distributions put together. The `anomalous' s-wave repulsion known from pionic
atoms is clearly observed and could be removed by introducing a
chiral-motivated density dependence of the isovector scattering amplitude,
which also greatly improved the fits to the data. The empirical energy
dependence of the isoscalar amplitude also improves the fits to the data but,
contrary to what is found with pionic atoms, on its own is incapable of
removing the anomaly.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, 5 tables. V2 added details on
uncertainties,extended discussion. To appear in PR
Notes on Superconformal Chern-Simons-Matter Theories
The three dimensional N=2 supersymmetric Chern-Simons theory coupled to
matter fields, possibly deformed by a superpotential, give rise to a large
class of exactly conformal theories with Lagrangian descriptions. These
theories can be arbitrarily weakly coupled, and hence can be studied
perturbatively. We study the theories in the large N limit, and compute the
two-loop anomalous dimension of certain long operators. Our result suggests
that various N=2 U(N) Chern-Simons theories coupled to suitable matter fields
are dual to open or closed string theories in AdS4, which are not yet
constructed.Comment: 47 pages, 20 figure
Latest results from the PHOBOS experiment
Over the past years PHOBOS has continued to analyze the large datasets
obtained from the first five runs of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC)
at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The two main analysis streams have been
pursued. The first one aims to obtain a broad and systematic survey of global
properties of particle production in heavy ion collisions. The second class
includes the study of fluctuations and correlations in particle production.
Both type of studies have been performed for a variety of the collision
systems, covering a wide range in collision energy and centrality. The uniquely
large angular coverage of the PHOBOS detector and its ability to measure
charged particles down to very low transverse momentum is exploited. The latest
physics results from PHOBOS, as presented at Quark Matter 2008 Conference, are
contained in this report.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, presented at the 20th International Conference on
Ultra-Relativistic Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, "Quark Matter 2008", Jaipur,
India, Feb.4-10, 200
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